Massive Blow: Lebanese President Aoun Expels all IRGC Operatives
Lebanon strikes a major blow to Tehran’s regional influence. Prime Minister orders the arrest and expulsion of all IRGC personnel and reinstates visa requirements for Iranian citizens, ending decades of unchecked Iranian presence in Beirut.
In a series of unprecedented decisions today, the Lebanese government initiated moves that signal a historic turning point in Beirut-Tehran relations. These steps represent a direct assault on the Islamic Republic's long-standing strategic foothold in the Land of the Cedars.
At the center of this development, the Lebanese Prime Minister issued a sweeping directive to all national security agencies to arrest any individuals associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) currently staying in the country. The order demands their immediate removal and deportation back to Iran. This move is seen as an explicit challenge to the freedom of operation enjoyed by the Quds Force and IRGC personnel in Lebanon for several decades.
In addition to the expulsion of military and political personnel, the Lebanese government announced a drastic change to its immigration policy. The government decided to cancel the broad visa exemption previously granted to Iranian citizens. Moving forward, all Iranian nationals will be prohibited from entering Lebanon without obtaining a visa in advance.
This combination of security and diplomatic restrictions effectively marks an attempt by the Lebanese state to reclaim its sovereignty and distance itself from Tehran’s regional military apparatus during the ongoing escalation of Operation Epic Fury.